Mediating effects of religious coping on acculturative stress and life satisfaction: Focus on Sri Lankan migrant workers in Korea

Considering the increasing numbers of migrant workers in the Republic of Korea and the challenges faced by migrant workers in adapting to their new environment, this study investigates how religious coping mediates acculturative stress and life satisfaction. Based on data collected from 106 Sri Lankan migrant workers, the study found that both internal and external religious coping styles significantly mediated acculturative stress and life satisfaction, with the external style affecting life satisfaction more significantly than the internal one. Religious coping styles were significantly and positively correlated with life satisfaction, which could help reduce acculturative stress. Factors, including age, gender, marital status, religious visits and working hours contribute to understanding the role that religious coping mechanisms play in the lives of migrant workers. Accordingly, the study suggests supporting religious communities and activities of migrants, and upgrading the social, cultural and educational services they receive, as well as the policies of the Korean government directed toward them.